List 97: Top Eleven Favorite Soundtracks in Anime
So much god damn music! From amazing tunes to ear shattering sounds, it was a journey listening to them all individually and rating them as such. Some were impossible to enjoy, and others had no official ost sadly. Yet, I had a lot of fun going through all of it. Music is a joy to me, and out of those 100 series(movies were exempt) these are the best of them all. I do hope some of you can enjoy these picks for their musical composition and if you have a little time go search them out. It will be well worth your time.
Also I counted wrong when making my final cut so I have 11 because I didn’t have the heart to cut the 11th show.
11. Spicy Wolf
Gosh what a lively OST. It is so charming to embark on. That fantasy world you see and imagine trying to be a part of really comes right off the screen when you hear this soundtrack. The music is so fitting in every way. I think the one drawback is this OST doesn’t have a particular show stealing song, outside of that though it is very wonderful.
10. Baccano
Historical anime tend to be very realistic. Well, Baccano isn’t exactly that way but it’s like if history decided to be a lot more creative and let loose. Hence why the jazz accompaniment for this OST is spot on. One of the more free feeling and wild musical genres(and a personal favorite of mine) this soundtrack is dripping with pure excitement and fun. Some tracks are a tad short or samey but for the most part you get a lot of strong pieces that get you tapping your foot to them.
9. Mushishi
Mushishi is really a dark world full of mystery and the occultic. It always finds a way to bring the viewer on a spiritual journey with those mushi though. It’s something very tranquil and almost fragile. The music captures this feeling eerily well in the best of ways. I’d say most if not all the tracks are superb, the only drawback is they lack any length and end up being hard to name on the spot. As a whole though they were a strong cohesive.
8. Haikyuu
Wow this was a surprise. I didn’t expect this soundtrack to be so damn mesmerizing with it’s selection. I really could feel the intensity and emotion welling inside me while listening to it, and I found a new respect for the series. The time spent on the music was damn good. Really I am impressed with this soundtrack for how it delivered. Props to you, props to you.
7. Trigun
Such great guitar tracks right here. Most anime tend to really fall back on piano music of some sort, and guitar tracks seem to be less and less. And when they do appear boy are they just devoid of any effort. Not with Trigun, that classic rock and rock electric guitar to get you amped is there in spades! And it kicks ass just like the Human Typhoon. The issue is the OST is so long you kinda get some throw away songs before the good stuff settles in the dust.
6. Clannad
Emotional OST’s are hard to come by. I heard so many soundtracks try to be moving and just fail with plain pieces. Clannad however excels at being a great mixture of SOL, comedy, and drama with it’s show and the music needed to match that tone. And by golly it sure as heck does! I would say some of the finest individual tracks are on this OST, but they get a bit diluted with overuse in remixes to the point of making you go, “Please stop that, please right now!”. This is an issue in all Key OST’s and Clannad suffers from it whilst being so good everywhere else.
5. Darker than Black
Another big surprise was this OST! Wow, just wow how could this show have such a powerful Jazz musical powerhouse OST. Then I look it up and remember Yoko the Angel Goddess Kanno produced it. Seriously this is good stuff and makes an already enjoyable action thriller series feel even more exciting and bombastic. Truly a delight to hear, it’s only shortcomings would be a handful of short needless tracks.
4. FLCL
Here is a respected pick I am sure, but I think we can all agree in terms of anime music, it is very unconventional. While thinking that, I also think that it is strange and foreign in the best of ways. What else would fit the weird ass blob of storytelling that is FLCL than something very unanime. A great selection of music to support a very odd ball short anime. I love it for what it is. It isn’t the best but it is damn good.
3. Kids on the Slope
Did I mention I loved Jazz music? Yes? Ahh knew it! Well this is a time piece with all types of jazz music. From piano to drums to trumpet. The music hits all sorts of new creations and old historical classics. Yoko Kanno does it again with brilliance. Kids on the Slope has a powerhouse OST, the only reason I can’t rank it higher is not all the music is original and so 1/3rd of the strength of the music comes from preexisting music. I don’t want to credit it all to Kanno that way but it is well placed and makes a lot of sense. I can’t give it the overall win though for anime OST’s should be mostly of their own merit.
2. Shiki
Atmospheric and disturbingly creepy as fuck this OST makes Shiki the chilling ride it is. While the character designs can detract from the horror, hearing the haunting ambiance this OST produces as it builds up to a soul splitting crescendo is hard not to be amazed by. I really think it is one of the best OST’s I have ever heard. A lot of simple and deeply effective scary music tracks that create a horror vibe like none other. It would be a winner but the top pick is just too good to best.
1. Cowboy Bebop
Obvious pick is obvious but with over 6 hours of music Cowboy Bebop has my hands down pick for best anime soundtrack. The amount of genres it covers alone is impressive to boot, but to see the musical quality attached to each and every one of them is so noteworthy, I can’t praise it enough. Bebop is the master of music in anime for me and Kanno’s finest work. She is my favorite composer and this for me as of now is her Magnum Opus. It never fails to amaze me after hearing it time and time again. These 11 OST’s are all fine works, but for me Bebop’s soundtrack just reminds me how sweet life can be with a little music in it.
Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own any of the above pictures. The credit goes to the original creators of each and thus will be considered theirs. Enjoy the pics!
Well those were my all time favorite soundtracks! What anime OST’s do you get your rocks off to!? Tell me somewhere!
See ya Space Corgis!
